Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-10-17
SHOT BY A STEP-SON.
4 CHICAGO MILLIONAIRE MURDERED on
HIS CHURCH STEPS.
A Sensational Killing-CharlsS Lee Shoots His Moth
e's Dsfamsr-A WOmans Cheekered Career
Origin Of the Family DifReuly-
RawsOns High Standing.


score OF carriages that had been waiting
for the wealthy worshippers. Young Lee,
with empty, still smoking revolver in
hand was assured, thrown into striking
ly different conveyance, the blue-painted,
commonplace wagon of the nearest police
patrol that came around the corner.
Away went the carriage in one direction,
off in the other dashed the patrol, while
all around on the streets and side
walks gaped the horror, stricken attendants
OF the five great churches in the vicinity
Just pouring out, after the mornings
praise OF him who commanded) Thou
shalt not kill, ." Thou shalt not commit
adultery"
Slowly the crowds began to recover their
dazed senses and recall in detail the fear
ful circumstances of the crime. Young
Lee had been seen for half an hour previ,
ous pacing the stone sidewalk on Ashland
avenue, near Madison, fronting the
Third Presbyterian church. OF this
church banker RawsOn has long
BEEN A LEADING LIGHT
and was still an houored member, not
withstanding that he had been charged by
his wife with perjury and other offenses,
enough to make him, If true, veritable
whited sepulchre. He, on the other hand,
alleged that she, although prominent in
society and q beautiful woman in appear
ance, was really disreputsble, blashphe-
nous deyilish tempered adventures, who
coveted only his money. For year or
more the two have been fighting each
other in the divorce courts, and within 4
week the banker has filed against her ad-
ditional charges of adultery.
Little attention had been paid to young
Lee, as he stalEed backward and forward
past the church entrance lie was lost in
the crowd when the gaily dressed cougre-
cation hogan to come out. Among them
vas the well known form OF the bank
president. Alr. Rawson was about stepping
INTO the carriage, when between the sweet
majestic tones OF the great organ
CAME THE SHARP CRACK
OF d revolver, followed by deep groan,
with the Stilied cry.
Pm killed
The aged millionaire iell, Frustrated on
the stone flags, upturniug his agonized
white face on the cold, set face of his step
sOn.
The crowd seemed rooted to the stones
IA horror, helpless, till policeman came
running to the scene Then began q wild
clamOT, and Lse, turning to to the officers,
hoarsely whispered:
Take me To jail quick"
10 seemed scarcely a moment till the
patrol wagon bore him away. When the
dying banker reached his home, six ply
sicians had been called, They prObed for
the bullets, and found that all had lodged
ia the legs or arms, save one. That en-
tered near the small OF the back, and,
nearly Us could be Judged, had plunged
through his abdomen. If his life is saved,
it will be little shOrt.of a miracle.
Over at the police station young Lee
vas asking reporter to carry Mrs. Raw
son,
HIS MOTHER, THE NEWS.
She occupies apartments at the Continental
Hotel. The reporter sent up word that he
had extremely important business, and
was presented without delay TO plump,
dark complexiOned, handsome woman, in
he prime OF life, the most noticeable
feature OF whom was a pair Of swapping
black eyes
The reporter then related the facts of the
case, and asked:
What do you think it was done for? -
Iu an instant Mrs. Rawson was trans
formed. Her black eyes flashed the fire Of
deadly hatred, and she seemed TO quiyer
fron head to foot.
What do l think of itr' she cried,
am glad OF it. lie deserved it.
She stopped Just long enough to catch
her breath.
What was il done for. "
Because Rawson has made me out on
the streets to be public prostitute. ."
IN stand by the boy" she cried, rais-
ing her arm with dramatic gesture. HE
did no more than any boy would do. He
is the son of his mother"
Then she began tn pace To and fro over
the heavily CarpetFd floor.
II intended
TO DO IT MYSELF"
she exclaimed, suddenly stopping in the
middle Of the room.
Did your son know of your intention
She turned wicked look on her ques.
toner and said sharply:
Il do not know. he might have known
it. He surely knew he deserved it"
"I sm glad OF it, he deserves all he got y
When short afterwari, young Lee in his
cell at the police station saw reporter
approaching, he jumped up abruptly and
without waiting q question declared:
II have nothing whatever to say except
that l am entirely responsible. 1t was
wholly my own act. My mother knows
absolutely nothing of it,
Being further urged, he burst ont:
'He tried to prove my mother an adul-
teress, and an adventures. Now he wanted
to make out nv sister bastard, aud that's
all will say"
The career of the young mans mother Is
in many respects remarkable. She has
been married several times and divorced
one, and as a department clerk in the Gov
eminent service at Washington Is under
stood to have been concerned in some
DECIDEDLY SENSATIONAL INCIDENTS.
1t was as the pOssessor OF considerable real
estate in Chicago that she first became &C
quainted with RawSOn. Their marriage
soon followed. That was about five OF six
years ago. RawSon is 81 years old and his
wife claims he is physically a wreck.
Whatever the cause OF their disputes, the
matter finally went TO courts.
On September %, 1886, Mrs. Rawson's 8
long threatened bill for legal separation
from her husband was filed The allega-
tions were cruelty and refusal Of her hus-
band TO support her, closing with a recital
OF how he had installed detectives in their
home, 10 close it up. when Mrs. Rawson
should leave it.
RawsOn had in the meantime left the
house and taken up his abode with a
friend. In his answer to the bill Rawson
aVerred that his married life had been q
terrible and continual drama of domestic
calamity and wretchedness, the sole cause
OF which was his wife's phepomenaIIv
awful deyilish and wicked tempar and